238 THE WILD-FLOWERS OF SELBORNE 



sold, and it has found its way alike into the hut of 

 the Red Indian and into the palaces of kings. And, 

 curious though it may seem, the interest excited by 

 the narratives still continues ; new editions are fre- 

 quently published, and every year numbers of visitors, 

 including many Americans, make a pilgrimage to the 

 cottages of Little Jane and of the Dairyman's daughter, 

 and gaze on their respective tombstones in Brading 

 and in Arreton churchyards. 



These facts present a literary problem of consider- 

 able interest. After all, the Amials are only tracts, 

 and of a religious complexion no longer so predomi- 

 nant among Christian people as was the case a hun- 

 dred years ago. But in one important particular they 

 differ from the great bulk of Evangelical writings once 

 eagerly read and now totally forgotten. We allude 

 to their deep sympathy with Nature, and to the 

 beautiful descriptions of local scenery which they 

 contain ; and it is this recognition of " delightful 

 scenery" which separates the writings of Legh Rich- 

 mond from those of contemporary Evangelicals whose 

 works are now buried in oblivion. 



For some eight years only did Legh Richmond 

 reside in the Isle of Wight, but short though his 

 ministry was, it left an abiding impression on the 

 neighbourhood. Every detail of his work is now 

 regarded with interest, and the spots connected with 

 his narratives are sacred ground. It was in the year 

 1797 that he was ordained to the curacy of Brading, 

 which at that time included within its bounds what 

 were then the obscure fishing hamlets of Bembridge 

 and Sandown. He also had charge of the small 

 parish of Yaverland, with its beautiful little Norman 

 church delightfully situated on rising ground about 



